The Lankan Lions have added fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando along with wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella as stand-by options for the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia. The head of Sri Lanka Cricket’s high-performance centre Tim McCaskill will also travel to Australia.
The side have suffered several injury blows in the lead-up and during the tournament starting from Dilshan Madushanka, who was ruled out ahead of the tournament with a quad injury. They then lost the attack leader Dushmantha Chameera after sustaining a grade two tear in the calf during the first-round match against the UAE.
Pramod Madushan hasn’t been officially sidelined, but he hasn’t played since the match against UAE due to an injury concern. In the batting department, Danushka Gunathilaka went down with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Ashen Bandara, who had to step in versus Ireland after Pathum Nissanka complained of a groin injury.
The latest name to this long list was left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, suffering a hamstring injury during the recent clash against Australia. Binura was drafted in as the replacement for Madushanka. Binura hobbled off the pitch after bowling just deliveries against Australia on October 25.
Sri Lanka have a real shot at making the semifinals, with two favourites, England and Australia, also losing a game each. Sri Lanka won their first Super 12s fixture against Ireland but were hammered by the hosts of the tournament in the next. They will take on New Zealand in the next match at the SCG on Saturday.
